Box-making machine.



Patented May 24, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. D. PARKER.

BOX MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1909.

0 1 9 11 A1 2 y a M a nu t n Du t a P 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fag 112 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. PARKER, 0F RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

BOX-MAKING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. PARKER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at for making lemon boxes of standard dimensions, as used in the lemon-packing industry, or other boxes with ends of unequal dimensions; and it has for its object to provide an lmproved box making machine which will be substantially automatic, speedy and posit1ve 1n operation, and superior in point of quahty-of output, general efficiendy and servlceability, and relative simplicit and mexpensiveness of organization an production.

This invention comprises subject matter embodied in an application for Letters Patent for box maklng machines, filed by me July 2, 1908, Serial Number 441,673; and a particular object of the present invention consists in the rovision of means for supporting and ho ding the work during the nailing or assembling operations.

The invention consists in the novel prov1s1on, construction, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a rear elevation, partly broken away and in section for clearness of illustration, of a box-making machine constructed and organized according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same, taken upon the line 22, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows, parts being likewise broken away for clearness of illustration; and, Fig. 3 is a detail-horizontal transverse sectional view of the same, taken-upon the line 33, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same .reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, the improved box-making machine comprises, ingeneral, a table or support A upon which the box shooks are supported in the operation of nailing the same to- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1909. Serial No. 487,066.

Patented May 24, 1910.

getherfsaid table or support being movably supported.

B designates or the shooks or parts of the box, whereby the latter are maintained in position upon the table or support during the nailing operation.

C designates, in general reference, nailing means, which comprise nail chucks a, nall feed means I), and nail punches or drivers 0.

D designates means for adjusting the table or "support A; E designates means for operating the nail punches or drivers 0,- and F designates means for regulating the nail chucks a and nail punches or drivers 0. The nail chucks a are connected with a nail chuck carrier d; and the nail punches or drivers 0 are connected with a nail punchcarrier e; said carriers 01 and 6 being relatively movably mounted.

G designates means for relatively moving the carriers d and e.

H designates means for regulating the holding means-B.

The various adjusting, operating and regulating means above stated are operatively connected with or operated by a main power shaft 7 having a controlling clutch 8, and being geared in connection with a countershaft 9, which latter is provided with suitable brake-means h.

All of the above means and elements, which, in specific organization, comprise a box-making machine embodying the invention, are supported by 'or connected with an upright frame f having upright side mem; here 10, a base or bottom member 11 and a transverse top member 12. The shafts 7 and 9 extend transversely of the machine, between the side members 10, and suitable journals supported thereon. Combined with the shafts l 13 eared in connection with the latter shaft an extending above the same between suitable journals on the side members 10. The nail feed-means 72 extend from the trans verse top member 12 downwardly to the nail chucks a, which with the nail chuck carrier d are arranged beneath thenail punch carrier 6, Next beneath the nail chuck carrier 03 are arranged the holding means B, and next beneath the latter means is arranged and 9v is a supplemental shaft holding means for the box,

a table or support A; the shafts 7 and 9 and the box to said first side an? ends and transverse partition. As the imensions of a standard lemon box, for the production of which the machine is particularly adapted, are substantially 27 inches by 14 inches by .103; inches, the sides of the box being 27 inches by 10% inches-and the bottom of the box being 27' inches. by 14 inches, andthe ends and transverse partition of the box heinglet inches b32103; inches, it is necessary to vary the vertical dimensions of the space between the table or support A and thenail- 111g means C, so as to increase or decrease such space, for the accommodation of the box shooks-or parts, having unequal dimensions, in connecting the sides and bottom of the box with the ends and transverse parti-- tion of the box, by nailing. To these ends the means D for adjusting the table or support are provided; and also the means G for relatively moving the carriers (1 and e are provided. Likewise, as the extent of the nailing lines is consequently greater in the operation of connecting the bottom'of the box with the ends and partitions of the lat ter than are the nailing lines when nailing the sides of the box to the ends and partition of the latter, the means F for regulating the nail chucks a and the nail punches or drivers 0 are required.

The means H for regulating the holding means B operate automatically to terminate the grip of the holding means upon the parts of the box, after one of the nailing operations, so that the box may be manipulated to re-present the same properly for a successive nailing operation.

A particular preferred form of provision, construction, relative arrangement, combination and association of parts, members, features and elements of abox-making machine embodying the invention, such as shown in the drawings, is as follows :-The table or support A comprises a flat plate It, provided with spaced side cheeks 15 embracing the side members 10 of the frame 1, so as to be vertically slidable on said frame; and relatively movable table portions 15, three in number, extending transversely of the plate lland projecting normally above the surface of said plate, being located in openin'gs 16 formed in said plate and having stops 17. limiting the upward movementof said portions 15 by engagement with and beneath a plate It. Fromthe forward and rearward end portions of each of said table portions 15 extend downwardly projecting rods or bars 18, each of which isencircled by a coil spring 19 bearing at its upper end against an adjustable head 20 upon the respective rod or bar 18 and at its lower end against a stirrup shaped bracket 21, extending downwardly from the plate 14; each of such springs and its associated parts constituting tension means m for the respective table portion 15; whereby said table portions 15 may be depressed against tensional resistance. The parts of the box, in the nailing operations, rest directly upon said yieldingly supported movable table portions 15, whereby variation in the box shook dimensions'may be accommodated. Said table portions 15 are relatively spaced to correspond with the relative spacing of the ends and transverse partition of the box, into which portions of the box the nails are driven through the-sides and bottom of the box. This relative arrangement of parts and locationtof the box parts upon the table A are clearly shown in Fig. 1, in which the box, ready for the final nailing operation, is

shown in dotted lines. Suitable supporting rollers'22 are provided for the table 'or support A, being arranged beneath the same adjacent to the side cheeks 15; and said rollers 22 rest upon cams 23 fixed to the shaft 13 and embraced within the means D for adjusting the table or support A.

The holding means B comprises relatively movable gripping members a, which extend transversely above the table or support A,

substantially in a horizontal plane, being side members 10, of the frame f, and the rod or bar 24 is preferably longitudinally movably connected with said side members 10, the end portions thereof being slidably mounted in bearings 26 fixed to said side members 10. Said rods or bars 24 and 25 extend in parallelism, and are sli htly spaced apart in the same horizontal p ane. The gripping members n comprise fixed gripping arms 27 and movable gripping arms 28. The fixed gripping arms are provided each at its inner end with an annular portion 29 encircling and fixed to the fixed rod or bar 25, as'at 30, and with an annular portion 31, loosely encircling the movable rod or bar 2-t. Each of the movable gripping arms is provided at its inner end with an annular portion 32 loosely encircling the fixed rod or bar 25, and with an annular portion 33 loosely encircling the movable rod or bar 24:. Each of the movable grip- 'ping arms 28 is provided with tensional means 0 tending to force the same into engagement with the stop or collar 35 fixed to the movable rod or bar 24, as at 34, and located between the collar 33 of the respective able gripping arm 28 and the annular portion 31 of the associated gripping arm 27. Each of said tensional means comprise a coil spring 36 encircling the rod or bar 24 and bearing upon the respective annular portion 33 and a collar 37 spaced therefrom and fixed to the rod or bar 24, as at 38. Supplemental tension means may be employed, acting upon the mova le rod or bar 24 and comprising a coil spring 39, encircling said rod or bar 24 at one end ofthe same, between one of the keepers 26 and a collar 40 fixe upon the rod or bar 24, as at 41.

The supplemental tension means p will tend to urge the rod or bar 24 transversely of the frame f, in longitudinal movement of such rod or bar, to cause the relative separation of the fixed gripping arms 27 and movipping arms 28 to a degree, determine by the engagement of the collar 40 with the adjacent collar 31. Said supplemental tension means p are comprised within the regulating means H for the holding means B; said regulating means further comprising a bevel head 42 fixed to the outer end of the movable rod or bar 24, as at 43, and a complementarily bevel head 44 fitting between said head 42 and the adjacent keeper 26, outwardly of said keeper said head 44 being fixed to or formed upon the lower end .portion of an arm 45 extending adjacent to and outwardly of the adjacent side frame member 10. Said arm 45 is movable vertically and is operatively connected with the nail punch carrier e, as at 46; whereby, in the descent of said nail punch carrier the cooperatlon of said bevel heads 42 and 44 will cause the endwise movement of the rod or bar 24, against the tension of the tension means 12, causing the gripping arms 27 and 28 to relativel approach in, increased gripping effect, w 'ch gripping effect is of a yielding quality, because of the tension means 0 bearlng with relation to the movable gripping arms 28. One of the gripping arms, as 27, of each air of grippingarms 27 and 28, is provide vwith anadjustable and detachable stop 47, suitably connected with the respective gripping arm 27, as at 48.

The nail chuck a consists each of a chuck body 49, sald chuck bodies, six of which are shown in each group in the drawing, being slidably mounted, so as to move forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, with the ex ception of one of the same, namely, a; and

said chuck bodies are so slidably mounted upon spaced bars 51 ran 'ng forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, and supported upon inwardly directed flanges 52 of the nail chuck carrier d, which consists of an open frame work 53 having side cheeks 54, slidably embracing the side. members 10 of the frame f. There are three of such sets of chuck bodies 49 and spaced bars 51; whereby said series are properlyrelatively separated in accordance with the relative spacing of the lines of nailing operation above referred to. v

Comprised within the means F for regulating the nail chucks a are bell crank levers 7o 55, one for each of the sets of six chuck bodies 49; and each of said bell crank levers 55 is supported on the underside of the chuck carrier (l of the frame 53,- the respective bell crank levers being relatively separated in accordance with the relative spacing of the three sets of chuck bodies and their support-. ing bars 51. One arm of each of the bell .crank levers 55 is connected with an extended connecting rod 57 which extends trans- 3o versely of the machine and is likewise comprised within the regulating means F. With the other arm of each of the bell cranks 55 is pivotally connected the inner end of each of five link arms 58, each of which is pivotally connected, as at 59, at its outer end, with one of the chuck bodies 49. The innermost chuck body, namely a, is fixed with relation to the bars 51, by a setscrew 60. The reciprocation of the connecting rod 57 causes relative movement of all of the chuck bodies, either extending or contracting the line of nailing operation above referred to. Connected with said chuck body 49 and communicating with its nail feed passa e is a flexible nail feed tube 70; and the said tubes 7 0, one for each'of the six nail chucks a, of each of the three sets of the latter, all extend u 7 wardly into connection with a movab e header 7'1 in the top frame member 12 of the machine, as at 71. The nails are suitably fed to the nail tubes 70; the header 71 is connected with and moves with the nail chuck carrier 03, as by a prop or support 72.

Each of the chuck bodies 49 consists of two halves or members, 49" and 49 rQSPectively, which said halves or members are securely bolted together; This two-part. construction. permits of installation and repair of the internal part of the nail chuck a, comprising the Hall chuck and associated features.

The nail punches or drivers 0 of which there are three set of six each, one such nail punch for each nail chuck of each of the three sets of six of the latter, are carried each by a punch head 74; being detachably connected therewith;'and the punch heads 74 of each set of six of the same, are with one exception, slidably supported by a fixed bar or rod 76 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the machine and supported upon bottom flanges 77 of an open frame work 78 constituting the nail punch carrier e and provided with side cheeks 79 slidably embracing the side members 10 of the frame 7. Said bars or rods 7 Gone for each of the sets of six punch heads 74, are s aced apart in the frame work in correspon ence with the relative spacing of the bars or'rods 51*, which 130,

- i br' each set oi the nail punches support thesets of chuck bodies 49; of

the punch; heads 74- is suspended slidabiy from its bar or rod 76 by means of a flanged tongue 80, working. in a corresponding groove in suchbar. or rod. Each of the nail punches c is of elongated fiorm, extending downwardly and fitting the nail punch and passage in one of the chuck bodies 49' arrarged directly beneath the same.

omprised within the means. F tor regulating the chucks a and the nail punches c are a plurality oi bellcrank levers 82, one

said bell crank. levers being pivotal'ly supposted fromthe frame work 78; and all of said bel li cranklevers' areconnected, by one equivalents,- 89', corresponding to the locked condition oi. the corresponding nail chuck a with which itspunch c is associated. Reciprocationof the connecting rod will cause oscillation of the bell crank levers 82 to slide the punch heads 74 along their bars or rods 7 6,. extending or contracting the lines o i punching operation in correspondence with: the extension or contraction of the lines nailing: operation established by. the relative arrangement oi the nail chucks of the several sets oi the latter; The operation of the bel crank levers 82 and of the bell crank levers- 55 is'jioint', through. the instrumen taht f the means f for regulating the nail chuc a and nail punches 0;- and the or ganizatioir oat such means is as follows?- vertical rock shaft 90"1s-'arra'-n d at one s de of machine, adjacent to tie respectwo side members 10, being journaled upon one of the side cheeks ,79 of the frame work 78*- or the nail punch carrier, as at 91, at its upper end, and provided adjacent to its upper end. with-,axn arm: 92 between it and the arm 84 or the adjacent bell crank 82 extends a: connecting rod. 93- whereby all of and bell: cranks 82 and". the connecting rod 8% are; operated Said! r'ocki shaft 90' extends downwardly through s aced bearings 94 formed on one of. the si e cheeks 54 of the frame work. 53 ot the nail chuck carrier d.

A crank arm. 95' is accommodated between spaced! 94, and connected with the rock shaft 90 by a spline 96. Connected with the crank arm 95 is a connecting rod ?'7, which with onearm of theadrecent belli crank 55-, whereby all ofthe bell cranks 55 and connecting rods '57 are Each of actuated in the rocking movement of. the shaft 90. The rock sha it 90 has vertical play through the bearings 94!, and the inner end of the crank arm 95. The lower end oi the roclt shaft 90 is squaredand passes slida-bly through the body of a crank a rm 1 00',- which is revoiubly mounted ina bracket and supported at 99' by the side frame member" 10'. Beneath thezbracket 105' a col- 121-12100 is fixed tothe shafit 90. The collar 98 is provided with a crank arm IOOpivotally connected by a; link arm 101 W1tha central pivot-lever-a-rm B02, carrying at its upper end a roller 103, which operates in connection with a cam 10% fixed to the shaft 13; said lever arm 102; is supported by a bracket 105 connected: with the bracket 99-. The cam 104: is provided with a: curved fa ce groove or way 106, whereby the lever arm 102 is oscillated, in the rotation oi the shaft 13,- to, rock the vertical shaft 90' by means of the crank arm 100, and thereby oscillate the crank arm 95 and the crank arm: 92, con

trolling and regulating inoperation, the

nail chucks a and the naih punches at The means G for relatively moving the nail chuck carrier at and the nail punch carrier e comprises twoconnecting rods 197, one arranged. at eaclr side of the matchaneinward ly of the respective frame member 10 extending vertically and each connected at its upper end, as at 108, with the framework 56 of the nail ch-uck carrier 03. Each of the connecting rods 107 is divided centrally, as at 109, forming two overlapping portions ad'- justablyiconnected, as at 11-0, whereby the length of each connecting rod 10'? may be varied, thgus vai ying the path of play of the Ira-il chuckcarrier 0!. Each of the connect: ing rods' 107 is pivotally connected at its lower end,- as at 111, with one arm 112' oi a crank lever 113 supported by the respective frame member The other arm 114 of each bel-l crank lever I13-is provided with a roller' 115 playing upon a disk-cam 116.- of the cams 116 is fixed to the shaft 9 adjacent to one end 015 the same. Said cams 116 are so flormed that the" bell cranks 113 are properly operated to move the nail chuck carrier (Z In proper relation to the nail punch carrier e, as hereinafterset fiortht The means E for operating the nail punches c comprise two connecting rods 11 7,

each; of which extends vertically of the ma; i

chine and is arranged outwardly of one side frame member tO- oi the same. Each of 1 operatively connected with a crank arm 120' fixed to one end of the shaft 9, and the other of which is fixed to the outer face-of a. car 121, and the other end of the shaft 9 is xed to the gear 121 which meshes with a smaller gear 122 on the main shaft 7; and a smaller gear 123 upon the shaft 9jwhich meshes with a larger gear 124 on the shaft 13.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the improved box-making machine constituting the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement:'As set forth in the first part of the description, the box is assembled by first nailing onto the ends .and the transverse partition one of the box sides, by then nailing on the box bottom, and by finally nailing on the second box side. The parts are shown in the drawings in proper relative positions for adding the final box side. Commencing with the first ste in the assembling operation, the box en s and the transverse partition are placed upon the table or support A, where they are held in proper upright positions by the holding means B, comprising the relatively movable "gripping members at. The adjustable stops 47 are properly located with relation to the dimensions of the box parts or shookswhich the grippingmembers are to receive. The operation then places, manually, the first box side upon the box ends and transverse partition, said ends and partition extending through a greater s ace vertically than horizontally, because 0 their irregular dimensions, and the adjusting means D are in such operative positions as to sustain the table or support A in its lowermost position. As the lines of nailing operation are to only extend acrossthe side of the box, the means F for regulating the'nail chucks a and nail punches a are in position to cause the close relation or least relative space of the nail chucks a and nail punches c. The nail punch carrier 6 and the nail chuck carrier (1 are in their elevated positions, as shown in the drawings; and the means H for regulating the holding means B are in such position as to cause the gri ping members n to merely sustain the box sliooks in upright position without any rip upon the same.

Operation of the actuating elements of the machine in the directions indicated by the arrows, will now cause the nail punch carrier 6 and the nail chuck carrier (1 to descend, respectively, through the agency of. the means E, and the means G, nails having been fed to the chuck portions 62* and 62 ofthe chuck bodies 49 through the nail feed tubes"70. The punches- '0' now descend through the-punch passages in the punch bodies and engage with the heads of the nails which are held in the chuck portions under tension; and the nails are positively driven from said chuck portions, which relatively separate, and into the ends and partition of the box through the first side of the box. Simultaneously with this operation, the means H for regulating the holding means B cause the endwise movement of the -rod or bar 24 in the bearings 26 against the tension of the springs constituting the tension means 0 and 79, causing the gripping members it to firmly engage with and-hold the box shooks during the reception of the nails therein. Immediately upon the completion of the aforesaid nailing operation, the means E for operating the nail punches initiate the elevation of the nail punch carrier 6 with its punch a. Before this elevation is completed, the means G commence the elevation of the nail chuck carrier d, freein the nail chucks from contact with the nai side of the box, and permitting the operation of the means F for regulating the nail chucksa and nail punches c with respect to the lines of nailing operation, to extend the latter for the nailing of the bottom of the box to the other parts.

The nail 'punch carrier 6 is elevated through a path greater in extent than that takenin elevation of the nail chuck carrier (1 tothe end that the'nail punches 0 may clear the points of communication of the nail feed tubes and the nail and punch passages, so that other nails may enter the chuck bodies and be temporarily sustained by the chuck portions. Simultaneous'with the elevation of the nail punch carrier 6 the means H for regulating the holding means B operate to permit relative separation of the gripping members n, to the end that the ox in its present stage of assemblage may be given a quarter turn upon the table A. The bottom of the box is now placed upon the long edges of the ends and partition, and the table or support is raised by the adjusting means D to'compensate for: the decrease in the vertical dimensions of the box structure. The nail punch carrier e and the nail'chuck carrier 01 are now lowered by the means E and the means Gr, bringing the nail chucks down'upon the bottom of the box, with the chuck bodies in extended arrangement for the long lines of nailing operation, and the punch c following through the nail chucks force the nails from the chuck bodies into the box shooks and through the bottom of the box. The same sequence of o eration that followed the connection of the rst side of the box with the box shooks now occurs, permitting a quarter turnof the box structure upon the table A, the means H for regulating the holdin means B, which cause the grip of the mem ers n upon the box shooks in nailing the bottom to the latter now operating to free the box shooks from said gripping members. But the means F for regulating the nail chucks. and -na1l punches now operate to cause the bunching of the nail chucks and nail punches of each set of the same, in order to obtain contracted or shortened lines of nailing operation, the ends and partition of the box resting upon'their shortened edges for the final nailing operation.

The box structure having been turned upon the table in position to receive the second side and the table lowered by the ad'- justing means D, the means E and G cause the descent of the nail punch carrier e with its punches qand the nail chuck carrier d with its chucks, as before, bringing the chucks down upon the final box side, and nails are driven through the second side of the box and into the ends and partition of the latter; the box structure being firmly held in position by the holding means B under the actuation of the regulating means which cause a firm engagement of the grippingvmember n with the box structure. Immediately upon .the subsequent elevation of the nail punch carrier 6 and nail chuck carrier d, the means H permitting the release of the completed box from the holding means B, and the box is removed to make place for a fresh set of shooks. The operation is thus continuous,

, each lowering of the nail chuck carrier and nail punch carrier, together with each adjustment of the table being accompanied by the, addition of one side or the bottom of the box to the other parts. Through the agency of the means G the nail chucks and nail punches are alternately contracted for the production of shortened lines of nailing operation for the successive additions of the sides to the box shooks, and expanded for the addition of the bottom to the box shooks. With each descent of the nail punch carrier the means H actuate'the meansB to cause the latter to firmly grip the developing box structure; each elevation of the nail punch carrier throwing the holding means out of operation.

It is of importance to provide the relatively movable portions 15 of the table, so that variations in the dimensions of the box shooks may be compensated for, the play of the table A under actuation of the means D- and association of parts, members and features shown anddescribed; but reserve the right to vary the same, in adapting the improvements to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the terms of the following claims Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l.'In a machine of the character described, holding means for the work comprising relatively movable gripping members, means for operating the gripping members to cause the relative movement of the same and the yielding engagement of the same with the work, there being tension means applied to one of the gripping members and included insaid operating means, and independent tension means opposing relative movement of the gripping members. I

2. In a machine of the character described,

holding means for'the work comprising relamembers being fixed to the fixed rod, theother of the ippingmembers being .slidably connectefivith the movable rod, tension means opposingthe movement of the movable ro in one direction, tension means upon the movable rod and acting upon the gripping member slidably connected there- -w1th, and.means for operating the movable rod in one direction. 1

3. In a machine of the character described,

holding means for the work comprising a fixed rod, a movable rod spaced therefrom and parallel therewith, a plurality of grippingarms fixed to the fixed rod and provided each withan annular portion loosely encircling the movable rod, aplurality 'of gripping arms provided with annular portions respectively loosely encircling the'fixed and movable rods, a coil spring enclrcling the movable rod and acting to oppose movement thereof in one direction, other coil springs connected with the movable rod and acting respectively upon certain of the gripping arms, and means for operating the movable rod'in one direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y GEORGE D. PARKER.

Witnesses:

RAYMOND I. BLAKESLEE, Faun A. MANSFIELD. 

